winter magic

I am sitting here at 12:10 AM, at my desk/window perch completely enjoying the sights and sounds around me. About an hour ago the family and I arrived home from an epic show put on by Brian Setzer.  My ears are ringing just a bit and it is going to be awhile before I can calm down enough to sleep.

First off, the house is quiet.  After much chatter about the show and bowls of ice cream, everyone else has gone off to bed.  I do not see much light outside.  A street light, and then a mile or so to the lights of the marina, and then just one faint light twinkling at the edge of the island.  No stars.  This time of year there are lights on the deck that make me very happy.

A wind has come up and I can hear gusts blowing against the front windows, followed by the sound of tree branches brushing together.  I have a number of glass art pieces on the deck and they tinkle and swivel.  Not enough for me to be worried and bring them inside, just enough for the movement to catch my eye.

I read an article this morning about the Holidays becoming just one more thing on our To Do lists.  How there is so much to be done, but extra minutes in the day are not provided to do them.  It made me think about legislation that is enacted without a way to pay for it. 

In the past we were all about the holidays.  Growing up Jewish, I did not have a ton of traditions to pull out every year.  Growing up Catholic, Husband had a few, but not many and that meant we were free to make our own way.  When the kids were little we stopped "school" at Thanksgiving and spent the rest of the year reading, playing, cooking, decorating, doing puzzles, playing games, and generally enjoying each others company.  Now that the kids are in college and high school, we do not have the luxury of time.  This year, for the very first year, I would have been happy to skip it all.  It is an awful feeling.  There is so much I want to do and so little time to do it and in the end I feel like I am failing.  Isn't that weird?  How did this happen and when will I be able to regain the magic of this time of year?

How are you doing out there?  Checking off your list?  Wishing for one more week?  Happy with your plans?  I am curious.

Comments

[kristieinbc]

I can totally relate to your post. I read on another blog a suggestion from a commenter that maybe what we need is a "slow holiday" movement, much like the slow eating movement that has come out of Italy.

[kate]

I think you may know me well enough by now to know that I am all about the little moments. So I have tried to find lots of times to just enjoy Bushboy's excitement and joy. I still get caught in the to-do list, but I try to remember why we are doing it, and what it's all about for us. Whether that means playing 20 questions while we make fudge or driving around town at night to look at all the Christmas light displays, fun has to be in the mix.
(Mr. Kate finds it harder, as he works in a grocery store and this time of year is pretty stressful and busy. When people are happy it can be fun to be that busy, but when the customers are all stressed it can make the days really long.)

[Toby]

This has always been a stressful time of year from me. I think it stems from divorced parents and trying to divide my time between them and the grandparents homes over the holidays. As I got older the stress comes from shopping - I don't enjoy shopping for myself or anyone else, and I enjoy it even less if it's crowded.

For the last few years I've encouraged my family to cut back on gifts and I've pondered skipping it all together. I'll be that crazy person in the family who gives the money I'd spend on gifts to charities instead.

This year I was determined to have a no-stress holiday and for the most part I've succeeded. I've bought everyone gift cards for small amounts and will gift a few knitted items. Otherwise, I have not thought about it and have not participated in any shopping craziness. I don't feel "bah humbug" about it, I'm just letting it the season pass by without getting caught in the frenzy. The only part that made me grumpy so far was trying to get home from work since my office is located between Costco and the mall.

This weekend we'll enjoy two family get togethers. That's the part I'm looking forward to!